Fitness and Rehabilitation machine for the Rotator Cuff

ABSTRACT

A machine for exercising and rehabilitating the rotator cuff muscles that allows the user to easily isolate and manipulate, from a standing position, the internal and external rotation of the Rotator cuff with an outstretched arm, at any angle, to strengthen the Rotator Cuff muscles. Additionally it allows the user to strengthen the Pronation, Supination, Radial Deviation and Ulnar Deviation of the wrist. 
     The aforementioned machine is comprised of a main rotating handle apparatus that consists of a gear joint, a ratchet mechanism and an angle adjustment pin. The handle is secured to linear rails that allow for height adjustment. The main rotating handle apparatus is connected to a stack of weights for resistance via a rubber coated steel cable and pulleys as well as connected to two counter weights via rubber coated steel cables and pulleys that relieve the weight of the handle for ease of adjustment.

CROSS REFERENCE

Provisional Patent No. 62/552,981

BACKGROUND

There are 4.5 million Rotator Cuff injuries each year in the UnitedStates alone; 250 to 300 thousand of which require surgery. This is dueto a lack of convenient, efficient, non-strenuous methods to strengthenthe Rotator Cuff. Overall this results in the neglect to train theRotator Cuff, which leads to general muscle weakness for all ages andmuscle atrophy for the elderly, potentially resulting in serious injury.

The current methods of strengthening the Rotator Cuff include but arenot limited to, bands, cable machines and dumbbells that involverotating the shoulder while under its own weight or a greater weightwith the elbow bent at a 90 degree angle which limits the range ofmotion of the shoulder and puts stress on the Rotator Cuff.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a machine for exercising and rehabilitating therotator cuff muscles that allows the user to easily isolate andmanipulate, from a standing position, the internal and external rotationof the Rotator cuff with an outstretched arm, at any angle, tostrengthen the Rotator Cuff muscles. Additionally it allows the user tostrengthen the Pronation, Supination, Radial Deviation and UlnarDeviation of the wrist.

The aforementioned machine is comprised of a base, top, four supportbeams, main rotating handle apparatus that consists of a joint utilizinggears, a ratchet mechanism and an angle adjustment pin. The handle issecured to linear rails that allow for height adjustment. The mainrotating handle apparatus is connected to plate weights for resistancevia a rubber coated steel cable and a plurality of pulleys. The mainrotating handle apparatus is also connected to two counter weights viarubber coated steel cables that relieve the weight of the handle forease of adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an exampleand are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, inwhich like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 Illustrates a top angled view of a Rotator Cuff fitness andrehabilitation machine.

FIG. 2 Presents an exploded view of a Rotator Cuff fitness andrehabilitation machine.

FIG. 3 Shows a top angled view of the main rotating handle apparatus ofa Rotator Cuff fitness and rehabilitation machine.

FIG. 4 Shows an exploded view of one example of the main rotating handleapparatus of a Rotator Cuff fitness and rehabilitation machine.

FIG. 5 Shows a close-up view of the adjustable gear joint connected tothe ratchet mechanism and handle of a Rotator Cuff fitness andrehabilitation machine.

FIG. 6 Shows an exploded view of the adjustable gear joint, ratchetmechanism and handle of a Rotator Cuff fitness and rehabilitationmachine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed toa Rotator Cuff fitness/rehabilitation machine is merely exemplary innature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or itsapplications or uses.

The machine includes a number of structural elements typically made ofmetal that may be powder coated and assembled together in theconfiguration shown using any suitable securing devices, such as welds,bolts, screws, etc.

Please note that FIGS. 2, 4, 6, have detailed listings of individualparts whereas FIGS. 1, 3, 5 are illustrations to provide prospective.

The structural support elements of the machine include two verticalfront support beams 11 (coupled with linear rails 14) and two verticalrear support beams 12 (coupled with linear rails 15) secured to a baseframe 10 and a top frame 11. A main rotating handle apparatus 36 issecured to front vertical support beams 11 via linear rail brackets 16riding on linear rails 14 and spring loaded T-handle pins 47 that allowfor positioning at any height within the limit of adjustable positions.Weight stack 19 is secured to base frame 10 and bracket 18 with guiderods 13. Cable 32 is secured to main handle apparatus 36 via steel pin39 and runs through pulleys 20-21 mounted on top frame 11, pulley22mounted on weight stack 19, pulleys 23 mounted on bracket 18, pulley24 mounted on rear right vertical support beam 12, pulleys 25-26 mountedon base frame 10, pulley 27 mounted on front right vertical support 11and is secured again to main rotating handle apparatus 36 which connectsweight stack 19 to main rotating handle apparatus 36. Counter weights 17used to offset the weight of main rotating handle apparatus 36 aresecured to rear vertical support beams 12 via linear rail brackets 16that ride on linear rails 15. Cable 33 is secured to main rotatinghandle apparatus 36 and runs through pulleys 28-29 and is secured tocounter weight 17 connecting counter weight 17 to main rotating handleapparatus 36.

Cable 34 is secured to main rotating handled apparatus 36 and runsthrough pulleys 30-31 and secured to counter weight 17, connectingcounter weight 17 to main rotating handle apparatus 36. Weight stackshield 35 is mounted to rear vertical beams 12.

Main rotating handle apparatus 36 (FIG. 4) consists of an inner freespinning structure 37, a central bracket 38 which is keyed for shaft 53and bearings 40 accompanied by washers 41 which are secured by pins 42.Inner free spinning structure 37 is encased by outer hubs 43-44 andsecured with bolts 45. Bracket 49 is also fastened to front of outerhubs 43-44 utilizing bolts 45. T-handle pins 47 that are used for heightadjustment are inserted into steel sleeves 46. Steel sleeves 46 aresecured to linear rail brackets 16.

Gear joint (FIG. 6) consisted of two sub-assemblies. Metal block 50 isfastened to bracket 49 via machine screws 51. Bearing 52, inserts intometal block 50. Keyed shaft 53 inserts into bearing 52 through bracket49 of inner ring and bracket 38. Gear 54 attaches to keyed shaft 53.Metal plates 55 and 56 are fastened to metal block 50 via machine screws57. T-handle pin 58 is inserted into metal plate 55 completingsubassembly #1. Bearing 60 is inserted into metal block 59. Shaft 61 isinserted into bearing 60. Gear 62 attaches to shaft 61. Metal plate 62and 63 are fastened to metal block 59 via machine screws 65. Bearings 64are inserted into metal plates 62 and 63. Washer 66 is placed on shaft61. Ratchet 67 is secured to shaft 61. Handle 69 is secured to ratchet67 completing sub-assembly #2. Sub-assemblies #1 and #2 are conjoined byinserting pin 70 through metal plate 56, washer 71, plate 63, bearing64, washer 71, gear 72, bearing 64, metal plate 62, washer 71 and plate55 to complete gear joint.

Ratchet mechanism 67 consisting of a toggle lever 68.

As will be discussed in detail below, the user will stand in front ofthe machine to exercise each of the separate Rotator Cuff muscles forboth the user's right and left shoulder via Internal and ExternalRotation, as well as the Radial Deviation, Ulnar Deviation, Pronationand Supination of both the right and left wrist by lifting weight 19.Each exercise requires a combination of an appropriate height adjustmentof the main rotating handle apparatus 36 and appropriate angleadjustment of the gear joint.

For strengthening the Rotator Cuff, the user, standing in front of themachine will grasp handle 69 of the main rotating handle apparatus 36,pull t-handle pins 47 and position the main rotating handle apparatus 36vertically to shoulder height on vertical support beams 11. The userwill then flip the toggle lever 68 on the ratchet mechanism 67 in aclockwise fashion. Facing the machine head-on or with body turned to theside, reach with an outstretched arm, grasp handle 69 of the mainrotating handle apparatus 36 with palm facing down and rotate the arm ina clockwise fashion, in effect winding cable 32 around inner freespinning structure 37 which in turn lifts weights 19. User will repeatthis process as recommended or desired. The user will then flip thetoggle lever 68 on the ratchet mechanism 67 in a counter clockwisefashion, grasp handle 69 of the main rotating handle apparatus 36 withan outstretched arm, palm facing up and rotate the arm in a counterclockwise fashion, in effect winding cable 32 around inner free spinningstructure 37, which in turn lifts weights 19.

By utilizing the t-handle pins 47 for height adjustment of the mainhandle apparatus 36 in conjunction with t-handle pin 58 on the gearjoint for angle adjustment of handle 69, the user can exercise theRotator Cuff at any desired angle within the limits of the machine, aswell as the limits of their personal physics by repeating the processesmentioned above.

For strengthening the supination of the wrist, the user, after adjustingmain rotating handle apparatus 36 to a height even with the user's elbowand flipping the toggle lever 68 of the ratchet mechanism 67 in aclockwise fashion, the user, standing in front of the machine will grasphandle 69 of main rotating handle apparatus 36 with elbow bent at a 90degree angle with palm facing downward. The user will then rotate thewrist in a clockwise fashion (supination). Conversely, the user canre-position their grip with palm facing upward, flip the toggle lever 68of the ratchet mechanism 67 in a counterclockwise fashion and rotate thewrist in a counterclockwise fashion (pronation).

To strengthen the Ulnar Deviation of the wrist the user will stand infront of, but to the side of the main rotating handle apparatus, fliptoggle lever 68 of the ratchet mechanism 67 in a clockwise fashion,rotate handle 69 counterclockwise to a vertical position, grip handle 69with elbow bent at a 90 degree angle and flex the wrist forward,bringing your little finger toward your wrist (Radial Deviation).Conversely, the user, flipping toggle lever 68 of ratchet mechanism 67in a counterclockwise fashion, will rotate handle 69 clockwise to ahorizontal position, bend wrist forward (ulnar deviation), grip handle69 and flex wrist back toward them, bringing thumb toward wrist (RadialDeviation).

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art willreadily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanyingdrawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A Fitness/Rehabilitation machine for the RotatorCuff comprising: A main rotating handle apparatus; A plurality ofstructural elements comprising a base, vertical support beams, a top; Aplurality of counter weights; A plurality of pulleys mounted to thestructural elements; A plurality of cables running through the pulleys;A stack of weights fixed to the structural elements via guide rods and,a barrier around said weights.
 2. Vertical support beams of claim 1 arefastened to the base and the top to form a main frame.
 3. The mainrotating handle apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an innerfree-spinning structure, a centralized bracket, a fastener that allows acable to be joined to the inner free-spinning structure and a housingthat encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure.
 4. The mainrotating handle apparatus according to claim 3 whereas a separatebracket is fastened to the housing that encapsulates the innerfree-spinning structure.
 5. The main rotating handle apparatus accordingto claim 4 whereas a flexible joint is fastened to the separate bracketand connected to the inner free-spinning structure.
 6. The main rotatinghandle apparatus according to claim 5 whereas a ratchet mechanism isfastened to the flexible joint.
 7. The main rotating handle apparatusaccording to claim 6 whereas a handle is fastened to the ratchetmechanism.
 8. The main rotating handle apparatus according to claim 3whereas sliders with pins for height adjustment are fastened to thehousing that encapsulates the inner free-spinning structure.
 9. Thesliders of claim 8 are joined with the support elements which comprisesholes for the height adjustment pins.
 10. A cable of claim 1 is attachedto the main rotating handle apparatus that runs through a plurality ofpulleys connecting the main rotating handle apparatus to the stack ofweights.
 11. Cables of claim 1 are attached to the main rotating handleapparatus which run through a plurality of pulleys and connect to aplurality of counter weights.
 12. A Fitness and Rehabilitation machinefor the Rotator Cuff comprising: A main rotating handle apparatus; Aplurality of structural elements;
 13. Main rotating handle apparatus ofclaim 12 comprises an inner free-spinning structure, a housing thatencapsulates the inner free-spinning structure and a friction basedtension device that creates resistance.
 14. Main rotating handleapparatus according to claim 13 whereas the tension device comprises atension adjustment device.
 15. The main rotating handle apparatus ofclaim 12 whereas sliders with pins for height adjustment and bracketsfor angle adjustment are fastened to the main rotating handle apparatus.16. The sliders of claim 15 are joined with the support elements whichcomprises holes for the height adjustment pins.